Nervous about familiars, any Bonded Witches out there?

[VerdantSF]

I'm rather disappointed that the class that flavor-wise is probably the biggest inspiration for magical familiars, has them as a big Achilles heel. I'm considering trying out a Bonded Witch with a magical ring instead. Have any of you played a Bonded Witch? How high did you get the character? Did you ever feel like you were missing out on much without a familiar?

[MrSin]

I always feel like i'm missing out without the animal companion. I just like having a furry pet. That said, the bonded witch never looked appealing to me mechanically. You get a bonded item that has spells it can cast pre chosen, and then attached to an item so you don't get much creative control over it. That sort of design leads to a 'best' option and lots of trap/bad options.

[VerdantSF]

I just feel like all the fun I've had with familiars in the past with other arcane characters will be missing. I'll be a lot more reluctant to use the familiar for scouting or delivering touch spells to allies.

[MrSin]

VerdantSF wrote:

I just feel like all the fun I've had with familiars in the past with other arcane characters will be missing. I'll be a lot more reluctant to use the familiar for scouting or delivering touch spells to allies.

My fun with familiars has always been having a fun pet to use as an RP prop or plot item. You can still use it for skill checks and the like without worrying, and the free improved initiative or skill focus they can give you can't be replicated by an item. All up to you, familiar vs. bonded item is all about personal preference imo.

[+5 Toaster]

I don't know man, improved evolved familiar is pretty awesome.

[The Drunken Dragon]

I think either way is good. Honestly, I don't use my familiar for scouting, i use it for RP or props, as MrSin mentioned. That said, making the familiar a spellbook doesn't really change my opinion on the matter. The magic item, while it has an interesting flavor to it, it lacks the flavor of...well, an old lady with a crow or a cat that amplifies her magical power. The magic item thing makes me think less of a witch and more of...I don't know...some kind of dark lord or something.

[ArmouredMonk13]

If you don't like the familiar weakness, check out these

• Scarred Witch Doctor
• Grave Walker

Archetypes. They both replace familiar and Scarred Witch Doctor gives CON based casting, (Though you must be an orc or a human with the racial heritage orc feat to be one).

[+5 Toaster]

ArmouredMonk13 wrote:

If you don't like the familiar weakness, check out these

• Scarred Witch Doctor
• Grave Walker

Archetypes. They both replace familiar and Scarred Witch Doctor gives CON based casting, (Though you must be an orc or a human with the racial heritage orc feat to be one).

or half-orc(orc-blooded trait), or aasimar (scion of humanity alt racial trait.)

[Resentment]

Also, while it isn't a short-term solution, there is a magic item called the 'stone familiar' that lets you safely store and retrieve spells from it at will.

There are also favored class bonuses from races such as the human and half-elf that permanently add spells to your familiar, regardless of if they become deceased or not.